James Franklin (Jim) Williams of Tom Bean, Texas passed away on December 31, 2020 at the age of 79. He will be dearly missed. He was born June 26, 1941 to James Orville (Shorty) Williams and Lucy Elizabeth (Norman) Williams in Memphis, Tennessee. At an amusement park in Jenks, Oklahoma, a roller coaster ride with Glenda Joy Slaughter led to 56 years of marriage. They were married June 13, 1964 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jim graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1959. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve where he worked as a mechanic. After several years, he graduated from Tech school where he learned about electronics. This led to a career spanning over 30 years at Texas Instruments. Twenty-four of which were at the TI plant in Sherman, Texas. Jim and Glenda eventually settled in Tom Bean, Texas where they raised 3 children: Michele, Michael and Sheri.
Jim enjoyed spending time outdoors. Many family vacations were spent camping and hiking. He was an avid photographer who left behind many photos of national and state parks. He especially enjoyed spending time at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. He also enjoyed riding bicycles in competitions such as the Hotter N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls.
Jim continued working at TI many years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but decided to take early retirement in 2000. After which, he and Glenda traveled as much as possible all over the United States. He also became an accomplished wood maker. He could build just about anything. Many pieces of furniture and other items were given to family and friends.
Jim is survived by his wife, Glenda Joy Williams of Tom Bean, Texas; children, Michele Kallmann and husband, Kurt of North Richland Hills, Texas, Michael James Williams and wife, Holly of Allen, Texas, and Sheri Plasker and husband, Mark of Hillsboro, Oregon; grandsons, Trenton Williams and Chase Williams of Allen, Texas, Vince Plasker of Gresham, Oregon, Arthur Mann of Prineville, Oregon; granddaughters, Tiffany Johnson and Amber Mann of Vancouver, Washington and their children; brother, Richard Williams of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and numerous other loving family and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Jim to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org).